GROVES v. SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS
No. 25-0348V
PHILIP GROVES,
Petitioner,
v.
SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent.
Chief Special Master Corcoran
Filed: October 14, 2025
Christopher Williams, Siri & Glimstad, LLP, New York, NY, for Petitioner.
Alec Saxe, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
RULING ON ENTITLEMENT1
On February 26, 2025, Philip Groves filed a petition for compensation under the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq.2 (the
“Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that he developed the Vaccine Injury Table injury of
Guillain-Barré syndrome (“GBS”) as a result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine he received on
November 7, 2023, Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit
of the Office of Special Masters.
On October 8, 2025, Respondent filed a Rule 4(c) Report in which he concedes
that Petitioner is entitled to compensation in this case. Respondent’s Rule 4(c) Report at
1. Specifically, Respondent agrees that Petitioner has satisfied the criteria set forth in the
effective Vaccine Injury Table (“Table”) and the Qualifications and Aids to Interpretation
(“QAI”), which afford Petitioner a presumption of causation if the onset of GBS occurs
1 Because this Ruling contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made
publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or
at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government
Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government
Services). This means the Ruling will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance
with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information,
the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that
the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.
2 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease
of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. §
300aa (2018).
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between three and forty-two days after a seasonal flu vaccination and there is no apparent
alternative cause. Id. at 10-11 (citing 42 C.F.R. §§ 100.3(a)(XIV)(D), (c)(15)).
In view of Respondent’s position and the evidence of record, I find that
Petitioner is entitled to compensation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran
Brian H. Corcoran
Chief Special Master
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